Hot and Cold Applications on PVC Insertion

The Effectiveness of Local Hot and Cold Applications on Peripheral Intravenous Catheters: A Randomised Control Trial

Background: This study was conducted to examine the effect of local hot and cold applications on pain, anxiety level, length of application, and vein evaluation prior to inserting PVC.

Methods: This randomised controlled trial was conducted with patients who were hospitalised in the cardiology department of a university hospital. PVC was inserted, the researcher applied a hot or cold application to the catheter insertion site for one minute.

Background: This study was conducted to examine the effect of local hot and cold applications on pain, anxiety level, length of application, and vein evaluation prior to inserting PVC.

Methods: This randomised controlled trial was conducted with patients who were hospitalised in the cardiology department of a university hospital. The sample was comprised of 90 individuals, including 30 in the cold application group, 30 in the hot application group, and 30 in the control group receiving treatment in the Cardiology Clinic between November and December 2018.

Inclusion Criteria:

• being able to speak and understand Turkish,
• being over 18 years of age,
• having unimpaired sense of time or place orientation,
• having no psychiatric disorders,
• having no visual or hearing problem,
• having indication of IV catheter application,
• having no administration of analgesic or anaesthetic agents prior to IV catheter insertion,
• having catheter inserted in one attempt,
• having no allergy to hot and cold applications,
• being voluntary to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• infection
• previous history of surgery,
• scarring in the catheter insertion site,
• psoriasis in the catheter insertion site,
• active dermatitis in the catheter insertion site,
• peripheral nerve disease,
• diabetes,
• peripheral neuropathy in the catheter insertion site